The buzz around GLP-1 weight-loss injectables isn’t slowing down, but a new option may be coming that skips the needles and the side effects. It’s called SYNT-101 and it’s being described as a “gastric bypass in a pill.”
The once-daily tablet, called SYNT-101, was developed by Boston-based Syntis Bio. It doesn’t contain GLP-1s, but it works by temporarily coating the upper small intestine with a substance that changes how the body absorbs nutrients. That coating helps trigger natural satiety hormones like GLP-1 and PYY, curbing appetite and mimicking the hormonal effects of bariatric surgery. It forms in the gut, stays for about 24 hours then clears out on its own.
A New Way to Curb Hunger
In the company’s first human study, nine participants took the pill at varying doses. No serious side effects were reported. Imaging showed the coating formed and cleared as expected. Researchers also saw an increase in leptin and a decrease in ghrelin, two key hormones that regulate hunger.
One of the biggest concerns with GLP-1s is losing muscle along with fat. In early studies, SYNT-101 led to about 1 percent weekly weight loss without touching lean muscle, which could be a big deal for anyone already noticing strength or tone slipping.
In a press release, Syntis Bio CEO Rahul Dhanda says the interest in SYNT-101 speaks to what patients are really looking for. “The obesity epidemic demands therapies that are scalable, cost-effective and sustainable over a patient’s lifetime. SYNT-101 is designed to deliver on all three.”
The company plans to file with the FDA later this year to begin a Phase 1 trial. For anyone looking for a needle-free option, this may be one to watch.
